Hitachi to buy British nuclear power companyJapanese firm Hitachi says it will buy a British power company to strengthen its overseas nuclear plant business.

Hitachi said on Tuesday that it will purchase all shares of Horizon Nuclear Power next month from 2 German power companies for 670 million British pounds, or just over one billion dollars.

Horizon is set to build up to 6 nuclear reactors at 2 locations in Britain. But its German parent companies have been looking to sell the company's shares amid rising opposition to nuclear plants in Germany.

Hitachi plans to seek British government authorization to build the reactors and put them into operation in the early 2020s. [link to www3.nhk.or.jp] .